China urges EU to create non-discriminatory environment for foreign firms

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Wednesday urged the European Union (EU) to provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for foreign companies in Europe.

An official of the MOC called on the European side to immediately stop and correct its wrong practices after the European side raided offices of a Chinese enterprise in Europe and seized equipment on Tuesday.

China expressed serious concern over and strong opposition to the EU move, which breached due procedures, disrupted normal competition, and greatly undermined the confidence of all foreign companies operating in Europe, the official said.

China will closely follow the future moves of the European side and take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese firms in Europe, the official stressed.

The Mission of China to the EU said on Thursday that it is gravely concerned over and deplores the EU move.

The Chinese side believes that the EU's unannounced inspections interfere with the order of fair competition in the market, clearly jeopardize the positive atmosphere of trade and economic cooperation between China and the EU, and strike a strong shock to the confidence and sense of security of all foreign companies in the EU, including Chinese ones, said the Mission in a statement on its website.

The Chinese side urges the EU to abide by its commitment to open market and the principles of a level playing field and stop using all kinds of excuses to unreasonably suppress and impede the Chinese companies, the statement stressed.

The Chinese side looks forward to conducting exchanges and cooperation with the European side in an open, fair and equitable way, said the statement.

China urges EU to create non-discriminatory environment for foreign firms

A concert by the Royal Opera of Versailles and an opening ceremony of the Virtually Versailles exhibition were held in Hangzhou, the provincial capital of Zhejiang in east China, on Thursday to highlight the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and France.

The concert and exhibition are also part of the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism to promote exchanges and mutual learning between the Chinese and French people.

The exhibition, which runs from May 2 to Oct 8, uses panoramic images and virtual reality for visitors to experience iconic attractions, century-old collections and important historical moments of the Versailles Palace, a brilliant cultural and historical complex of France.

China and France have also witnessed a surging trend of two-way personnel exchanges in 2024, immigration authorities said on Wednesday.

As of April 30, China recorded 104,000 arrivals of French nationals since the beginning of the year, up almost 295 percent from the same period in 2023, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA).

The visits were dominantly for business, tourism and family visits, said the NIA.

During the same period, Chinese mainland residents made 130,000 trips to France, an increase of 215 percent year on year, mostly for tourism and business, the NIA said.

The NIA data show that as of April 30, 74,000 visa-free entries had been made by French ordinary passport holders, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the total French nationals entering China.

Versailles Opera concert, exhibition held in Hangzhou to promote China-France exchanges